Stellartrips

Stellarvue is more than a telescope company. We are dedicated to fostering a deep appreciation for the night sky by presenting educational programs and outings in remote locations where one can see the stars as they should be seen.

HISTORY OF STELLARTRIPS

Vic Maris began presenting astronomy related programs long before he founded Stellarvue. As a ranger and naturalist, his first star talk was held in 1974 at Red Rock Canyon State Park. Since that time he has played a strong role in space science education. He was the Park Superintendent who paved the way for the establishment of the Robert Ferguson Observatory in Sonoma County and he trained rangers in interpreting the night sky. Today in addition to his Stellartrips, Vic continues to train rangers and to present programs in for clubs and in National Parks.

STELLARVUE 2016 SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

JANUARY 14th - Installation Dinner for the Stockton Astronomical Society. Vic presented a talk on the history of refractors and explained how high end apochromatic refractors are made. This was an audio-visual presentation with video taken behind the scenes at Stellarvue.

APRIL 9 & 10 - Northeast Astronomy Forum (NEAF)Every year Vic Maris shows the latest in Stellargear at the largest telescope show in the U.S.A. If you ever plan to attend NEAF plan to spend the entire weekend in Suffern, New York. Vic was interviewed again this year by Dennis Dicicco with Sky and Telescope magazine on new telescopes and our new Optimus eyepieces. For more information on NEAF visit their website.

JUNE 30 - JULY 3: Stellarvue Dark Sky Star Party (DSSP).Our most successful DSSP ever took place under the darkest skies in the USA. DSSP gives Stellarvue owners the opportunity to observe under extremely dark skies during our three - four night event. Next year's program was announced and once we opened registration the program booked in minutes! However, sometimes a family must back out at the last minute. So if you are interested in attending next year, email orders@stellarvue.com and get on the notification list.

We reserve the Likely Place RV Park during the most favorable new moon weekend of the year and cater the dinners. This facility has full hookups, a telescope field with power, an 18 hole golf course and a cafe so you can golf and camp without cooking! We also present numerous educational programs during the event. Attendance is limited to Stellarvue members who sign up in time! See images from this year's DSSP on our 2016 DSSP PAGE.

JULY 30: Star-B-Que - Sacramento Valley Astronomical Society. Vic Maris presented his Majesty of the Night Sky program and demonstrated the SVA130T under steady skies. If you live in Sacramento you should join SVAS! More info on the SVAS Events Page. We had the pleasure of seeing several wonderful Perseids arriving early on Saturday night. The air was steady enough to show Saturn in vivid detail through the SVA130T. It easily outperformed other telescopes on the hill including SV instruments up to 115 mm. Planetary detail, ring structure and divisions and several smaller satellites were revealed without effort. The SVA130T is truly a remarkable instrument and Vic plans to take it on the road every time he attends a program under the night sky this year.

AUGUST 5-7: Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks Dark Sky Festival.August 5-7, 2016 is a great weekend to take advantage of the clear, summer night skies in Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks. The date is a few nights after the New Moon and leads up to the impressive Perseid meteor shower which peaks August 12 and 13.

This year we are celebrating the 100th anniversary of the National Park Service, meaning National Parks all across the country are offering special events to the public. The 2016 Dark Sky Festival is considered a Centennial event. Vic Maris will present his Majesty of the Night Sky program at the Sunset Campground on Friday night August 5 and on August 7th at the Lodgepole visitor center. At this time it appears that all campsites are booked that weekend but check into the local forest service sites if you want to camp around Sequoia.

AUGUST 12-14: Lassen Volcanic National Park 100th Anniversary and Dark Sky Festival.Another Dark Sky Festival in a spectacular National Park! Vic will not be attending this one due to a schedule conflict but other telescope enthusiasts will be showing the night sky in a telescope field at the Manzanita Lake campground. Several guest speakers and programs are going on throughout the park this weekend!

AUGUST 25: Central Coast Astronomical Society. Vic presented a talk on the history of refractors and explained in detail how high end apochromatic refractors are made. This audio-visual presentation included video taken behind the scenes at Stellarvue. The talk was well received. Vic really enjoyed seeing the folks at CCAS again. This is a great club with very active and enthusiastic members.

OCTOBER 1: Arches National Park. The Stellarvue Mothership will not be in the Arches National Park Campground in October as planned. Work has gotten in the way as we are expanding once again, adding an optical shop in our complex to move more production in house. Vic may be attending Nightfall in Anza Borrego Desert as a weekend alternative to Arches. If that is confirmed we will post it here.

Vic and Jan will continue to take either the "Stellarvue Mothership" or the "Stellarvue Bigfoot Trailer" to various dark sky locations as time permits. We hope to see you out under a truly dark sky, somewhere out there. Clear skies to everyone!